An indispensable management guide for applying the theories of one of the world's most influential figures in quality control-W. Edwards Deming, the High Prophet of Quality ( The New York Times) The Essential W. Edwards Demingis a collection of articles, excerpts, case studies, and other influential writings that reveal how Deming's ideas evolved over time and show how he worked through problems and challenges many people in his profession previously considered unsolvable. Organized by theme, the book's covers such topics as the consequences of focusing on short-term goals, the problems with delegating quality, why notto focus too much on the bottom line, how to treat a business as a system, and eight misuses of statistics. Joyce Orsiniis a professor of management at Fordham University and the Director of Fordham's Deming Scholars Program. Diana Deming Cahill, a retired elementary classroom teacher, accompanied her father, W. Edwards Deming, at numerous public and private seminars and consulting sessions, classes, and meetings at New York University and at companies in the United States, Japan, Korea, New Zealand, Australia, and South Africa.